Once a Detective...: A Dan Burnett Thriller

Once a Detective... introduces Dan Burnett, a former NYPD detective forced into early retirement after failing his physical at age fifty-five. Trading his badge for a new beginning, Dan becomes a private investigator, mentored by a seasoned P.I. with a similar past. Divorced and living alone on a sailboat, his one source of joy is his college-aged daughter.

After cutting his teeth on cases alongside his new partner, Dan lands one of his own: a captivating woman whose brother has been murdered. With the NYPD having dropped the investigation, Dan steps in, determined to uncover the truth, while grappling with a growing attraction he feels for his client.

The suspects? Las Vegas casinos, where the brother owed a million dollars, and a second wife who came into a fortune after the murder. With help from a police colleague who initially worked the case, Dan follows the evidence across the country, tracking a deadly mob hitman and relying on the skills honed over a lifetime in law enforcement.

Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly, James Patterson, and Robert Crais, Once a Detective... is a fast-paced mystery packed with grit, heart, and hard-won justice.

"Larry Terhaar's Once a Detective is a masterfully plotted mystery with a compelling narrative voice, vividly drawn characters, and sizzling dialogue. A nuanced, emotion-filled portrayal of a struggling ex-cop who becomes a private eye, this novel is much more than a simple whodunit. It is impossible not to become immersed in the story-the book will grip you from beginning to end." - Urs A. Boelsterli, award-winning author of Dead Natural

"Once a Detective..." is a fast-paced romp through the streets of New York by former Detective Dan Burnett, in search of a killer. Larry Terhaar is a great storyteller. His characters were well-developed and compelling. I could feel the grit from the streets and taste the flavors of the fabulous food described. A fun summer read with lots of action....." - John W. Long, author of In the Name of the Father

"A well-written and fast-paced detective novel in the tradition of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. I hope this absorbing and entertaining book is the first in a series." - Steve Skurka, author of Pharo and the Murder at Smoke Lake